Against All Odds African Americans

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Against All OddsAfrican Americans Problem
Gambling
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AFRICAN AMERICAN - FACTS

• The rate of problem gambling is significantly
  higher among minorities and lower income
  individuals and the negative effects of problem
  gambling disproportionately affect these
  individuals. (University of Buffalo)
• Problem drinkers are 23x more likely to also have
  a gambling problem, than individuals who do not
  have a problem with alcohol. (University of
  Buffalo)
• California boasts the 2nd largest African
  American population in the country, with much
  lower net worth than White households. (U.S.
  Census, 2000)

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Types of Gambling Activity in the African
American Community

• Numbers Running
• Pool Halls
• Race Tracks
• Street Dice Games
• Cards

• Casinos
• Lottery
• Scratch Offs
• Bingo
• Sports Betting

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Comparison of Frequency at Unlicensed Games by
Ethnicity
All differences significant to .001
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AFRICAN AMERICANS - Research
African Americans Whites / Caucasians
Gambling Impact and Behavior Study (NORC, 1999) Problem 2.7 1.4
Gambling Impact and Behavior Study (NORC, 1999) Pathological 3.2 1.0
Research Institute on Addictions (NY, 2001) Problem 7.7 1.8
Research Institute on Addictions (NY, 2001) Pathological 3.7 0.5
Research Institute on Addictions (NY, 2004) Problem w/American Indians 11 3.1
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Contributing Sociological Factors

• Social Rewards
• Social Interaction
• Sensory Stimulation
• Decision-making Opportunities
• Group Membership
• Emotional / Moral Support
• Self Esteem
• Problems with Outside Society
• Loss of Social Networks
• Value Conflicts

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AFRICAN AMERICAN CHALLENGES

• Sociological factors for gambling, especially for
  African American males are social reinforcements
  and a false sense of power related to the
  Invisibility Syndrome
• This is also true for African American adolescent
  males, who according to a study by researchers
  from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public
  Health, have high rates of problem gambling,
  combined with externalizing behaviors,
  impulsivity and hyperactivity, particularly if
  they live in disadvantaged neighborhoods

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Invisibility Syndrome

• Frustration
• Increased awareness of perceived slights
• Chronic indignation
• Pervasive discontent disgruntlement
• Anger
• Immobilization or increasing inability to get
  things done

• Questions ones worthiness
• Disillusionment confusion
• Feeling trapped
• Conflicted racial identity
• Internalized rage
• Depression
• Substance Abuse
• Loss of Hope

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Ethnicity within Pathology
All differences significant to .001.
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Psychological Factors

• Personality
• Sensation Seeking
• Impulsivity
• Mood States
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Addictions
• Co-occurring Disorders
• Substance abuse / dependence
• Recovery

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Familial Factors

• Social Learning
• Parents may serve to model gambling behaviors
• Study participants who reported that parents have
  gambling problems were more likely to be
  pathological gamblers themselves.
• Genetic Predisposition
• Twin study found some heritability for
  pathological gambling symptoms based on DSM-III
• Molecular genetic study found evidence for shared
  genetic component among pathological gamblers

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Impact on Families
The most common problem is the loss of money.
Savings, property or belongings may suddenly be
lost. This kind of money crisis makes the family
feel scared, angry and betrayed. Gambling
problems cause strong feelings among
family members, which make it harder to solve
problems. Many partners of those with gambling
problems do not want to be emotionally or
physically close with the person who has hurt
them. Family members may avoid other people,
because they feel ashamed.
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Family Impact Emotional Problems

• Most people who gamble excessively have mixed
  feelings about gambling. They know they are
  causing problems for the people they love. They
  may become anxious and unhappy, and often hate
  themselves. But the urge to gamble is too great
  to resist.
• They feel they cant give up on all the time,
  money and emotion they have put into gambling.
  They cant accept that they will never win back
  what they have lost.
• Family violence is more common when families are
  in crisis. Gambling problems can lead to physical
  or emotional abuse of a partner, elder parent or
  child.

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Family Impact Physical/Mental Health
The stress of gambling problems sometimes causes
health problems, for both the person who gambles
and the family. This can include anxiety,
depression and stress-related problems such as
poor sleep, ulcers, bowel problems, headaches and
muscle pains. Many families under stress have
trouble coping. One member may try to keep things
in control by taking on more tasks. This can lead
to burnout. Family members often forget to take
care of themselves or to have fun.
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Family Impact Children
When a parent or caregiver has a gambling
problem, children can feel forgotten, depressed
and angry. They may believe they caused the
problem and that if they are good, the problem
will stop. Children may believe they must
take sides between their parents. They may stop
trusting a parent who makes promises he or she
doesnt keep. Some children may try to draw
attention away from the parent with the gambling
problem by misbehaving.
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Older Adults

• Senior citizens are the fastest growing age group
  in the country
• Seniors now form the largest group of annual
  visitors to Las Vegas
• California hotlines between 1999 2003, calls
  from older adults increase 25
• Less likely to seek help, view treatment more
  negatively than other age groups

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• Increased time on hands, accumulated wealth,
  compounded with social isolation, where gambling
  acceptance inclusion
• Targeted by gambling industry as a large consumer
  group
• Gambling onset may also have been preceded by the
  death of loved ones i.e. spouse, friends, etc.
• At greater risk for suicide
• Need for age-specific interventions for older
  problem gamblers.
• Depression / anxiety, poor deteriorating health

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• Women

Between 1975 and 1998, women who reported
lifetime gambling increased 22, as compared to
13 for men. Gambling impacts women differently
more likely to experience anxiety or suicide
attempts as a result of gambling. Gambling
usually becomes a problem later in life
Experience a faster progression, often becoming
problematic almost immediately, and hitting
bottom within 1 to 3 years.
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• Women have a narrower scope of gambling
  (non-strategic games) and tend to be classified
  as escape gamblers, whereas men tend to be
  action gamblers.
• Women are far less likely to seek help for
  gambling problems.
• Traditional treatment modalities such as GA are
  historically male-dominated
• Likely codependent
• Often a victim of abuse.

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• History of any abuse or neglect 84.2
  emotional, abuse (65.8) physical abuse (63.2)
  and sexual abuse (47.4).
  Moore, 2002
• 63 reported medium-severe problem childhoods
  personal history of substance abuse. Davis, 2004
• Pre-occuring mental health conditions any mental
  condition 81.6 dis-associative disorder (68.4)
  mood disorder (39.5) and anxiety disorder
  (7.9).
  Moore, 2002
• Blacks are the ONLY ethnicity where female
  gamblers outnumber male gamblers (51).
• Florida Council on Compulsive
  Gambling, 2009

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Whats Recovery Got to Do With It?

• For 2 - 5 of the population, gambling is an
  addiction that destroys them personally,
  professionally and financially, not unlike
  alcoholism or drug abuse.
• BUT
• For persons with alcohol and/or drug related
  problems (or in recovery), that number increases
  to an estimated 25-30!

University of Buffalo Research Institute on
Addictions
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Prevalence Rates of Substance Abuse Disorders in
Treatment-Seeking PGs
Disorder Sample N Lifetime Substance Abuse among Problem Gamblers Lifetime Substance Abuse among Non-Problem Gamblers
General or any substance use disorder
Bland et al. (1993) 7,214 63.3 19.0
Feigelman et al. (1998) 6,308 35.2 6.5
Alcohol abuse or dependence
Bland et al. (1993) 7,214 63.3 16.5
Cunningham-Williams et al. (1998) 2,954 44.1 7.5
Gernstein et al. (1999) 2,417 9.9 1.1
Petry, Stinson Grant (Submitted) 43,093 73.2 25.0
Smart Ferris (1996) 2,016 8.5 4.4
Welte et al. (2001) 2,638 25.0 1.4
Drug Abuse or dependence
Bland et al. (1993) 7,214 23.3 6.3
Cunningham-Williams et al. (1998) 2,954 15.5 3.5
Petry, Stinson Grant (Submitted) 43,093 38.1 8.8
Nicotine dependence
Cunningham-Williams et al. (1998) 2,954 54.7 27.2
Petry, Stinson Grant (Submitted) 43,093 60.4 n.s.
Smart Ferris (1996) 2,016 41.6 21.3
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DSM-IV Substance Dependence Criteria

• Persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut
  down or control. A great deal of time is spent in
  activities-getting, using, recovering.
• Loss of Control
• Important social, occupational, or recreational
  activities are reduced or eliminated. Use
  continues despite known negative consequences.
  Damage or Disruption
• A need for markedly increased amounts of the
  substance to achieve intoxication or markedly
  diminished effect with continued use of the same
  amount of the substance. Tolerance
• Withdrawal, as manifested by either withdrawal
  symptoms, or substance is taken to avoid
  withdrawal symptoms.
• The substance is often taken in larger amounts or
  over a longer period than intended.
  Dependence

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CULTURE PROBLEM GAMBLING

• Cultural values found to
• influence the social acceptance of behaviors such
  as alcohol consumption
• influence attitudes toward gambling, ranging from
  total abstinence to qualified endorsements
• Collectivist cultures might exert greater
  influence over gambling behaviors
• influence the type of gambling that may be
  punished and those that may be reinforced

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COMMUNITY TIES

• African Americans tend to utilize social support
  networks i.e. churches, extended family members,
  etc., rather than seek professional help.
• Use a Community Mental Health approach,
  (multi-system levels) extending interventions
  beyond the individual into the community/social
  systems and indigenous resources within that
  community (churches, etc)
• Utilize the national standards related to
  culturally and linguistically appropriate
  services (CLAS)

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The Importance of the Church in African American
Communities

• Spirituality and Religion have been essential
  components of the African American cultural
  heritage and a major source of support, strength
  and survival.
• The organized Black church is the oldest and most
  influential institution founded, maintained, and
  controlled by Black people.
• The Black church has guided the evolution of the
  African American family/community structure from
  parenting styles, healing practices, rites of
  passage and racial socialization.

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Why Involve the Faith Community?

• Over 300,000 local congregations with over 150
  million members
• 6 out of 10 Americans say their faith is the most
  important influence in their lives
• Faith communities are integral to the development
  of a healthy community
• A strategy that connects and includes education,
  health and human service systems and engages
  neighborhood and community/faith-based
  organizations is crucial to formulating solutions

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Challenges of the Community Model

• Competitive atmosphere among treatment providers
  and parochialism among culturally-specific
  agencies
• High occurrence of co-occurring/co-morbid
  illnesses
• Lack of, or bare bones, minority serving
  agencies, with little or no gambling treatment
  competence and no best practices
• Lack of trained, same culture treatment
  professionals and no cogent workforce development
  plan
• Lack of knowledge of the CLAS standards, and
  their implementation

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Gambling with The Future

• There is a significant body of research to
  support that while development of a strong ethnic
  identity can act as a protective factor against
  drug use among African American teens African
  American adolescent males have been identified as
  the population most likely to become pathological
  gamblers.